What are Conflict Diamonds? NM

[InSearchOf]

What are Conflict Diamonds?

Thanks

 

[pricescope]

diamonds that came from the conflict regions. They are usually used to buy weapons.



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[Vegan]

Conflict diamonds, or blood diamonds, are rough diamonds mined in conflict zones that are used by armed groups to finance conflict and commit grave human rights abuses.
Conflict diamonds have originated from Angola, Sierra Leone, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Diamonds have also sustained the conflict in Liberia and are a potential revenue source for future conflicts if the trade in rough diamonds is not effectively managed and monitored.

The volume of conflict diamonds has been estimated at between 4% and 15% of the world trade of rough diamonds. Even the low figure is significant volume of cash when set against the 2001 $7.9 billion annual trade in rough diamonds – enough to buy a substantial supply of cut-rate Kalashnikovs.

Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). As many as three million people have died in these wars over the past decade!!! In Sierra Leone, upwards of 50,000 were killed, half the population was displaced and more than two-thirds of the already limited infrastructure was destroyed. Rebels from the RUF chopped off the hands and feet of women, children and men in order to frighten civilians away from the alluvial diamond fields. The conflict has lapped over into Guinea and Liberia, causing massive dislocation and economic destruction. A report on the DRC in March 2001 by the International Rescue Committee estimated that 2.5 million people had died and a further 2 million had been displaced by war in the DRC.

This and more info can be found at www.onesky.ca

Hope this helps.

 

[rbjd]

Try checking out the Global Witness diamond report "For a Few Dollars More" I referred to here recently:

http://www.globalwitness.org